Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-12-04

| Ing man. M0eu rFhncLS saw Ief sue uC-
clared that the baron was dead, which is
the truth. The United States Consul at
Milan showed us the announcement of the
death in an American newspaper. Solar as
l can see, such sense as she still possesses
seems to be entirely absorbed in n alb
surd ides-the idea of writing a play for
Francis To bring out ut the theatre. He
admits that be encouraged her to hope
she might get money in this way. l think
he did wrong. Don't you agree with me?"
Without needing the question, Agnes
rose abruptly from her chair.
do me n more kindness, Henry"
she said. Take me to the countess once
more.o
Henry hesitated. "Are you composed
enough TO see her, after the shock that you
have suffered?" he asked.
She trembled, the flush on her face died
way. and left it deadly pale. But she
held her resolution. "You have heard Of
what / saw last night?" she said, family.
Don't speak of it |" Henry interposed.
Don't uselessly agitate yourself"
II must speak, Ny mind is full of hor-
rid questions abont. l know / can't
identify it-and yet | ask myself over and
over again, the whole likeness did it sp-
pear! Was il in the likeness of Ferarri?
or was it"-She stopped, shuddering.
THE countess knows, l must see the
countess!' she resumed, vehemently.
whether my courage fails me or not, /
must make the attempt. Take me to
her before | have time to feel afraid OF itn
Henry looked at her anxiously. "If
you are really sure Of your resolution"
he said, II agree with you-the sooner
you see her the better. You remember
how strangely she talked of your influence
over her, when she forced her way into
room in London"
AZ remember it perfectly. Why do You
ask"
For this reason. In the present 3 ate
of her mind, l doubt if she will he much
longer capable of realizing her wild idea OF
you a. the ~aveDgipg angel who is to bring
her toa reckoning for her evil deeds. 1t
may be well to try what your influence
can do while she is still capable OF feeling
it"
He waited to hear what Agnes would
say. She took his arm and led him in 81
lence 10 the door.
They assembled 10 the second floor, and
after knocking entered the countess room.
She was still busily engaged in writing.
When she looked up from the paper, and
saw Agnes, q vacant expression Of doubt
was the only expression in her wild black
ewes. After p few moments, the lost re-
membranes aud associations appeared to
return slowly to her mind. The pen
dropped IRON her hand. Haggard and
trembling she looked closely Mt Agnes and
recognized her at last. Has the time
come already" she said, in low awe
stricken tones Give me a little longer
respite. l haven't done my writing yeti"
She dropped on her knees, and held out
her claspei hands, entreatingly. Agnes
was far from having recovered, after the
shock that she had suffered i'll the night;
her nerves were far from being equal to the
strain that was now laid on them. She
was so startled by the change in the coun.
tess that she was ut q loss what TO say or
TO do next. Henry was obliged TO speak
to her. "Put your questions while you
have the chance" he said, lowering his
voice. "See! the vacant look is coming
over her face again"
AhhANo h'ANN w -ANAJ 49, NSN'SH
were in my room last night'--she be-
gan. Before she could add a word more,
the countess lifted her hands and wrung
them above her head, with q low moan of
horror. Agnes shrunk back, and turned
as if TO leave the room. Henry stopped her
and whispered TO her to try again. She
oheyed him after an effort. 81 slept last
night in the room that you gave up to
me-" she resumed. Il saw
The countess suddenly rose to her feet.
"No more of that" she cried. "Oh, Jesu
Maria! Do you think l want to he told
what you say? Do you think | don't
know what it means for you and fer me?
Decide for yourself, miss. Examine your
own mind. Are you well assured that the
day of reckoning has come at last? Are
you ready TO follow me back, through the
crimes of the past TO the secrets of the
dead?'
She turned again TO the writing table
without waiting 20 be answered. Her eyes
flashed; she looked like her old self once
more as she spoke. 1t was only for a mo.
ment. The old ardor and impetuosity
were nearly worn out. Her head sunk
she sighed heavily rs she unlocked a desk
which stood Oh the table. Opening a
drawer in the desk she took out a leaf of
vellum covered with faded writing. Some
ragged ends of silken thread were still at
tached to the Leaf, as if it had been torn
ont of a book.
'Can You read Italian ?" she asked,
handing the leaf to Agnes.
Agnes answered silently by an inclina-
ton of the head.
1.-The leaf" the countess proceeded,
"once belonged to o book in the old libra
~ of the palace, while this building was
still q palace. by whom it was torn out
you have no need 10 know. For what
purpose it was torn out You may discover
for yourself, if you will. Read it irst-at
the fifth line from tae top OF the page!"
Agnes felt the serious necessity of COM
posing herself. "Give me a chair" she
said TO Henry, ''and l will do my best"
He placed himself behind her chair so that
her TO understand the writing on the leaf.
Rendered into English, il ran as follows:
81 have now completed my literary sur-
vey of the fiHt floor OF the palace. At the
desire of my noble and gracious patron,
the lord of this glorious editice, | next as
cend TO the second floor, and continue my
catalogue or description Of the pictures,
decorations and other treasures Of art there
in contained. Let me begin with the cor
ner room at the western extremity Of the
palace, called the Room Of the Caryatides,
from the statutes which support the man
telpiece. This work il of comparatively
recent execution it dates from the
Eighteenth century only, and reveals
the corrupt taste of the p.riod in
every part of il. Still there is a certain
interest which attaches to the mantlepiece:
it conceals a c~leyerly constructed hiding
place between the floor Of the room and the
ceiling of the room beneath, which was
made during the last evil days Of the In.
QUESTION in Venice. and which Is reported
to have saved an ancestor of my gracious
lord pursued by that terrible tribunal. The
machinery Of this curiors place of conceal
ment has been kept in good order by the
present lord, as n species of curiosity. He